Latest news with #Nagarjun
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Five-year-old king cobra ‘Nagarjun' dies at Van Vihar
Bhopal: A five-year-old King Cobra named 'Nagarjun' died on Wednesday at Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal. The snake was brought from Karnataka to Bhopal nearly two and a half months ago. Since its arrival, it was kept under 24-hour veterinary observation. The reptile was found dead inside its enclosure. According to the Van Vihar officials, no movement was observed in Nagarjun through CCTV surveillance on Wednesday morning. Concerned by the inactivity, the attending veterinarian entered the enclosure and confirmed the cobra's death. A post-mortem was conducted by a team of veterinary experts. The exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem report is released. Van Vihar officials said that Nagarjun's behaviour appeared normal until Tuesday evening. Van Vihar's wildlife medical officer was in regular contact with the veterinary officer of Pilikula Biological Park in Mangalore, Karnataka, from where the snake was brought. No abnormalities were reported until then. Under the wildlife exchange programme, two male King Cobras—Nagarjun (age 5) and Nagshayna (age 8)—were brought to Van Vihar from Pilikula Biological Park, Mangalore, Karnataka, on April 6. Since their arrival, both snakes were under round-the-clock surveillance to ensure their adaptation and health. Further updates are expected following the results of the post-mortem examination, officials said.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Time of India
Four held for robbing Rs 29 lakh from ATM cash handler in Dindigul
Dindigul: Four people, including a minor, were arrested on Monday for allegedly robbing a man from Theni of Rs 29 lakh at knifepoint near Sempatti in Dindigul district last Friday. The victim was transporting cash to fill private ATMs when the gang struck. Police said Nagarjun, 30, of Devadanapatti in Theni, worked for a private agency handling ATM cash operations. On June 13, while on his two-wheeler en route to an ATM at Chinnalapatti, he was intercepted by three men near a Tasmac outlet on Pudukodangipatti-Ambathurai Road. The gang threatened him at knifepoint, robbed the cash, and fled. Following a complaint, a special team examined CCTV footage and identified the gang's vehicle. The accused, B Surendar, 25, A Mohammad Idris, 20, Prithiv, 19, and a 17-year-old boy, all from Devadanapatti, were arrested. Police are probing if others were involved and whether the gang is linked to similar crimes.
India Today
13-06-2025
- General
- India Today
I don't want to be next: How Air India crash must have shaken pilots at Ahmedabad
Pilots leave their earthly baggage behind when they take off. But, even those who are meant for the skies are bogged down by a crash like that of Air India Flight 171. This is especially true of the pilots who took off hours after the crash at the Ahmedabad airport, which killed all but one on board. Over a dozen others perished on the outskirts of the airport where the plane crashed less than a minute after total toll from the Air India crash is 265, making it one of the worst aviation disasters in the world. The fact that the crash took place during take-off -- a critical phase of the flight during which pilots are hyper-aware -- and that it involved the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner -- a passenger jet model never involved in a crash before -- stunned the aviation crash of Air India 171 has become a talking point in the pilot community. But it probably does not weigh as heavily as it would have on the minds of pilots waiting in line to take off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport. 'I don't think it's possible to remain unaffected,' says Nagarjun Dwarakanath, editor, India Today South Bureau and a qualified commercial pilot, on whether flight training helps aviators remain unmoved. ''I don't want to be next' is the kind of thought that goes through mind.'advertisementA former Navy pilot who transitioned to commercial aviation after retirement shares a vivid memory. 'I have had a similar occasion way back in 2006 when a crash happened at Goa's Dabolim airport. I was flying and was to land just after I heard about the crash [on radio].'The next few moments for him filled with 'tears in my eyes' and 'heart pounding'. 'I knew the pilot who had crashed for the last 10 years,' he says, adding that training and muscle memory helped him safely land. 'But my mind was disturbed and I was unable to concentrate.' 'SMILE WOULD HAVE BEEN MISSING'Both Nagarjun and the retired Navy pilot said that a crash like this would definitely have left pilots at the Ahmedabad airport in 'utter shock' and filled with a 'sense of fear'. Another pilot, who flies for a national airline, describes how the task of taking off must have been "very, very challenging and demanding" for the aviators next in line."It's a lot of courage that we need to gather to punch the thrust levers and depart... it is more of a challenge because your mind is already diverted and thinking about so many things [at a time when] you need to be situationally aware and follow your SOPs for a safe take off," he ultimately, the training does help.'Pilots on the whole are goal oriented with a problem-solving altitude. During the flight, pilots generally tend to leave most of their "earthly baggage" behind. Be it joy, sadness, anger or anxiety. The focus is always on safe operation then efficiency,' says Nagarjun.A fourth pilot, who used to fly with IndiGo before moving to a global carrier, adds that the brief shutdown of operations at the Ahmedabad airport following the crash would have been of help.'Since airport operations resumed after four hours, that duration generally allows sufficient time for pilots to recover and return to duty,' he says. 'There is no specific training that can fully prepare someone to witness death or a major crash up close. Nonetheless, pilots are trained to regain composure, refocus, and return to flying.'But that return to flying happens with a dose of abundant caution. 'For the guys immediately behind, I think the first feeling would be utter shock followed by resolve to ascertain that my airplane and passenger are safe,' says retired Navy pilot echoes the thought: 'They must have cross-checked each and every document related to the aircraft and the sector they were going to operate on... [they must also have] called up their family, especially the wife and children, to inform them that they are safe.'But, he says, 'The smile would have been missing for sure.'Must Watch
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Waging a war on chemicals with an invisible army
SIDDIPET: Industrial agriculture's addiction to monocultures and pesticides has left farms sterile and ecosystems broken. However, in Pedda Masanpally village of Thogutta mandal, an invisible army of microbes is waging war against crop diseases. Led by agricultural officers, this eco-friendly battalion is rewriting the rules of farming, proving that soil health and pest control need not come from a chemical bottle. Speaking to TNIE, agricultural extension officer T Nagarjun says, 'We can enhance crop health by using pheromone traps, sticky traps and light traps to monitor pest populations and assess the Economic Threshold Level (ETL). These tools help identify pest build-up before the infestation causes significant yield loss. Nagarjun has been promoting the use of biocontrol agents and biofertilisers among farmers. Twenty such specimens have been displayed at the Rythu Vedhika, and field demonstrations are being carried out to showcase their benefits. Demonstrations were recently held at the field of Anil Reddy in Pedda Masanpally village of Thogutta mandal, focusing on tomato, chilli and brinjal crops. 'We replaced chemical fertilisers with biofertilisers: Azotobacter for nitrogen, phosphorus-solubilising bacteria for phosphorus, potash-solubilising bacteria for potassium and zinc-solubilising bacteria for zinc. These microbes naturally boost soil fertility and reduce dependence on synthetic inputs,' explains Nagarjun. To control plant diseases, microbial agents such as Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas and Bacillus subtilis were used. These microbes possess antagonistic properties and suppress pathogens either through enzymatic action or antibiotic production, he adds. For managing sucking pests like thrips, whiteflies and jassids, biocontrol fungi such as Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii and Isaria were employed. To combat caterpillars, borers and leaf miners, the team used Metarhizium and Bacillus thuringiensis. 'We also introduced other biocontrol agents like Nomuraea and Bacillus subtilis, which strengthen the plant's immune system, making it more disease-resistant. This eco-friendly and sustainable approach helps reduce soil and water pollution, preserves beneficial organisms and improves long-term soil health,' mentions Nagarjun. He adds that the response from the farming community has been encouraging. 'These microbial solutions are emerging as viable alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilisers.'
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Sustainable farming: Pests drop to zero in chilli, tomato crops after adoption of biocontrol agents
SIDDIPET In a move aimed at encouraging sustainable farming, Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) of Yellareddypet cluster in Siddipet district T. Nagarjun has introduced biocontrol agents and biofertilisers to promote eco-friendly pest and nutrient management methods. The AEO recently organised demonstrations at Rythu Vedhika and on the field of farmer Ilapuram Anil Reddy in Pedda Masanpally village of Thoguta Mandal. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Nagarjun emphasised that not all pest problems require chemical solutions. 'The overuse of pesticides has not only reduced biodiversity but also led to frequent pest outbreaks due to monoculture practices. Monitoring tools like pheromone, sticky traps, and light traps help detect pest thresholds before crop losses occur,' he said. During the field demonstrations, biocontrol techniques were applied to tomato, chilli, and brinjal crops. Chemical fertilisers were replaced with biofertilisers including Azotobacter (for nitrogen), phosphorus and potash-solubilising bacteria, and zinc-solubilising bacteria — microorganisms that naturally enhance soil fertility and reduce the dependency on synthetic inputs. To control plant diseases, microbial agents such as Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus subtilis were used. These microbes exhibit antagonistic activity by inhibiting plant pathogens through enzymes and antibiotics. For managing sucking pests like thrips, whiteflies, and jassids, farmers employed biopesticides including Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, and Isaria. Insect pests such as caterpillars, borers, and leaf miners were tackled using Metarhizium and Bacillus thuringiensis. Other beneficial microbes, such as Nomuraea and Bacillus subtilis, were also introduced to bolster plant immunity and resilience. 'These eco-friendly methods reduce pollution, conserve soil biodiversity, and improve long-term soil health,' Mr. Nagarjun said. Farmer Anil Reddy reported significant benefits from the initiative. 'Pests in tomato and chilli crops were eliminated, though a few were still seen in brinjal. The bio-inputs we received from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Medak, helped us save around ₹5,000 on fertilisers and pesticides,' said Mr. Reddy, who cultivates crops on half an acre (20 guntas) of land. He is also using modern farming methods like use of mulching sheets to check the weed in the field and is anticipating a good yield.
